France's former world champion snowboarder Julie Pomagalski has died in an avalanche in Switzerland.
Pomagalski, 40, was swept away while skiing off-piste in a group of four in the canton of Uri, officials said.
Another French free-ride snowboarder was also killed in the avalanche, the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) confirmed.
Pomagalski was a teenager when she became world champion in snowboard cross in 1999.
She won the World Cup title in 2004 and registered nine wins on the circuit.
"Julie's tragic disappearance has left the French Olympic team in mourning for one of their own," the CNOSF wrote on Twitter.
"For reasons still unknown a sheet of snow broke away", sweeping three of the skiers away, officials said.
Police said the avalanche struck on Tuesday as the group was descending from the Gemsstock mountain.
The 10,000ft summit is popular with off-piste skiers because of its steep slopes and powder snow.
Pomagalski and the second skier killed, named as Bruno Putelli, “were completely buried” officials said.
The third suffered minor injuries.
